My career now has a purpose. The project we have worked on for the past one year is up and running. Check it out and send me your feedback (bouquets, brickbats, et al)
http://wealth.moneycontrol.com/
It’s now time for a drink!
Archive for May, 2008
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Thursday May 29, 2008
2008
05.29
05.29
Tuesday May 27, 2008
2008
05.27
05.27
The other night this 18-year old partied with us. I was a little apprehensive about his coming for our do, but since this chappie is a friend of a friend, we played along. By the end of the night, I got to know him a lot better, and it wasn’t pretty.
He was definitely homophobic and made ‘o that’s so gay’ remarks (thinking it was o-so-funny). He called so-and-so a slut (in that typical derogatory manner that men and women use when they are judging someone) but would be up to banging her any minute if given half a chance.
Of course, he is only 18 and obviously hasn’t found himself, yet. So, his attitude could evolve either way. He may grow up to be the quintessential Male Chauvinist Pig. On the other hand, he may shed all his prejudices by the time he is 25 or 30, quit trying so hard, that sort of thing. Only time will tell. I am SO glad I am 18 no more!
Tuesday May 27, 2008
2008
05.27
05.27
Life has suddenly gotten busy, busy, busy (and I am not complaining!). The site I have been waxing eloquent about, over the last one year, is finally launching. So, my career now has a purpose, once again. Yippee!
My weekend was nice-ish. Shacked up at a friend’s place and allowed myself to be thoroughly pampered. This place is located somewhat on the outskirts of the city. So, felt like I was on a sabbatical from life for 48 hours. Read a terrible book called Silvefish (aborted the mission after page 20).
On the bright side, watched a DVD of Come September, a classic where everyone is well turned out in their vintage best. Bobby Darin made his debut in this film. You don’t really notice him until he sings Multiplication with lots of verve. It’s about love and it’s typical trappings. I found the lyrics online. Neat.
Seems like nothing has changed in terms of the way men and women relate, since that generation
When you see, a gentleman bee, ’Round a lady bee buzzin’
Just count to ten, then, count again: There’s sure to be an even dozen!
Multiplication… that’s the name of the game!
And each generation… it’s played the same!
Now, there was two butterflies, castin’ their eyes, Both in the same direction…
You’d never guess. that one little “yes,” Could start a butterfly collection!
Multiplication… that’s the name of the game!
And each generation… they play the same!
Let me tell ya now: I say one and one is five, You can call me a silly goat!
But, ya take two minks, add two winks, Ah… ya got one mink coat!
When a girl gets coy, in front of a boy, After three or four dances…
Ah… you can just bet, she’ll play hard to get, To multiply her chances!
Multiplication… that’s the name of the game!
And each generation… you know they play the same!
Hear me talkin’ to ya: Mother Nature is a clever girl, She reli-es on habit!
Ya take two hares, with no cares: Pretty soon you got a room full of rabbits!
Two parakeets, in-between tweets, Sometimes get too quiet…
Uh-oh! But have no fear, ‘cause soon you’ll hear,
A parakeet’s riot—just try it!
Multiplication… that’s the name of the game!
And every generation… you know they play the same!
Yes… it’s multiplication: that’s the name of the game!
And each generation… they play the same!
Monday May 26, 2008
2008
05.26
05.26
This weekend I met a ‘motivational’ speaker at at event. This guy has travelled the world and when I say travelled, I mean that he has really put himself ‘out there’.
Morbid experiences in the thick, dense, uncharted forests of the Amazon. Koochi-cooing with30-metre whales off the coast of Mexico. He has lived in conflict-stricken Myanmar. Slept on the cleanest sand beds in Papua New Guinea with families that have never seen firecrackers, and who listen to the wind as a pastime, for lack of things to do. Travelled like (and with) the bedouins in The Sinai.
This is how he picks out his next destination: he sits with his atlas and Lonely Planet guide. That little dot on a map, which is not mentioned in LP is likely to be his next destination. He travels by rickety boats and other unsteady modes of transports — whatever it takes — to get to this place.
He motivates people by sharing his extremely radical adventures across the world. If you ask him where he’s from, he says,” I’m from here.” His answer stems from his belief that the world is one ecosystem and hence he is from everywhere.
In retrospective, one could describe his trip to the Amazon forests as reckless and dangerous. Nothing romantic about it when you hear about the dark side. He set off on this odyssey along with three other daredevils to try and find a missing tribe. They ate monkey brain soup because there was nothing else to eat. They were bitten by insects and God knows what else. They were exposed to extreme heat and floods. What’s worse — here in the forests, the true nature of these four individuals emerged. There was competition, there were disagreements. It was not pretty or peaceful.
Two of his companions he never saw again because the foursome could not agree on whether to travel by the river or walk on land. One group was sure that the river would culminate into a waterfall. One group was sure it wouldn’t’t. And so they split ways, and the latter was proved wrong. Our friend and his buddy (a dedicated photographer by profession) toppled down the waterfall and he emerged from the river, alone.
During the next 18 day he crawled because he could no longer walk, went without food for five whole days and eventually, had worms coming out of his brain and pus and blood from his feet. As the days passed he wanted to die and prayed with all his heart that he would, but an imaginary female companion saved him. He continued his journey and eventually collapsed on a river bank because this was the most likely place he would be found. And he was proved right. His friend who had survived the waterfall and found his way back to civilis1ation, came back with a search party. Our traveller was saved by a cat’s whisker. Of course, he may have not lived to tell the tale if his friend’s boat had turned back before they spotted him.
When I shared his story with friends they refused to believe me. However, his stories seem rather convincing when he narrates them. A tall, rugged-looking man, he exudes this air of worldly wisdom, sans being snooty nor supercilious. He’s a good storyteller who has packaged his adventures, well.
One of my girlfriends who was quite taken in by him, thinks he must be as adventurous in bed! He is married thrice, and I speculate that he may be bisexual. His description of a tryst with a male traveller had homoerotic undertones. He described his friend as ‘a beautiful, young man’. They decided to spend the next two weeks together and became ‘very close friends’. Alas, their friendship took a dark turn when they ventured into the depths of the Amazon. The ‘beautiful’ man metamorphosed into a ‘weak’ specimen of the human race. They went separate ways during the trip, and his friend was never spotted again. Of course, this aspect of this personality is merely speculation, my imagination having a jolly good time.
Thursday May 22, 2008
2008
05.22
05.22
David Cook has won. Alas, a friend and my ‘popular culture’ nights have come to an end. Through this year’s Am Idol season she would pop over, sometimes with her two dogs, we would order in some butter chicken and then judge the contestants (my friend, rather harshly).
The other night I stayed over at her place, and one of the little blithers slept with his little, jet black head glued to my back, all night. It was really endearing.
Personally, I had a soft spot for little 17-year old David. He sings with such feeling and passion, it’s as if he believes every word he is singing.
UPDATE: David Cook displayed copious amounts of EQ throughout the season. Even in his moments of glory or anticipation he always seemed aware of little David’s presence and disposition. Such a heartfelt hug when he was declared a winner, and moments before this moment he had his arm around little David. Seemed like a nice equation missing from earlier seasons.
Wednesday May 21, 2008
2008
05.21
05.21
I had a terribly sad conversation with a close friend. She loves his guy. And this guy loves her. But she wants to get married and he doesn’t believe in the institution. So, basically he wants her to be his girlfriend, and live-in for life. And she wants him to be her hubby.
So, the twain does not meet. He won’t budge and she won’t budge. And they are both equally miserable. As a true romantic, I felt very sad for her as she narrated this tragic tale. Sigh!
Wednesday May 21, 2008
2008
05.21
05.21
So, today I had to visit Tata Memorial Hospital to submit a sample of some sort to be tested. It was a nightmare. The place was teaming with human beings, lots of them, many of them, ill. And yours truly had to shuttle between three counters to register, submit, pay up and then collect receipt.
So, I have to interact with four different people (thankfully only one was inefficient and another was officious) to jumpstart one process. It does not help that in India we have NO concept of a queue. People huddle together in twos and three, cut into the line when they please and have zero concept of personal space.
I couldn’t WAIT to get out of there, and when I did I felt GREAT, better than I have felt in a long, long time. It’s like one has to be reminded about the morbid stuff in life to enjoy everyday goodness. Touché!
Thursday May 15, 2008
2008
05.15
05.15
I got a little more that the usual goodies from my Goa trip, this time round. Was hit by the sniffles and a dose of antibiotics (the kind that make ones breath smell absolutely rancid), almost as soon as my flight touched down.
On a different note, my mother does her usual maternal plotting and planning of how to stock up my larder (for the year, maybe?!). My suitcase will be bursting with rechado masala, balcao (prawn pickle), roast beef, some wine, sausages, et al. As a customs official once asked my mother: are you opening up a pickle shop?
And all these goodies I take so willingly. But this time I experienced a new feeling. I did not feeling like taking anything. I only felt like giving. It was a nice feeling.
written with alot of passion